Toby Underwood

Name: Tobias ‘Toby’ Underwood

Gender: Male

Age: 18

Grade: 12th

School: George Hunter High School

Hobbies and Interests: Magic: The Gathering, track, gardening, game shows and reality competition series, babysitting

Appearance: A 5’11” male weighing 160 pounds, Toby’s overall build is reasonably fit for a male his age. He has long arms and legs, making him appear a bit gangly, but because of his lazy posture and slouching habit he is easy to miss and unremarkable in a crowd. He is quite fit, but as a distance runner his arms aren’t very muscular, and his body is very lean. Toby’s chestnut-brown hair is slightly wavy and usually a bit over medium-length, giving it a naturally ruffled appearance. Toby has upturned, large brown eyes, which are dark in color and stand out prominently in his face, contrasting with his light skin. Though he spends a decent amount of time in the sun, his Caucasian features rarely get much darker until they eventually become sunburned. With a heart-shaped face and a slightly crooked, roguish smile, Toby is physically appealing and has a definite charm. His nose is short and straight, with light, expressive eyebrows and thin lips with an average-sized mouth.

Toby keeps up with normal standards for hygiene. His hair is washed routinely, and he has long become a practitioner of good dental hygiene. Though somewhat self-conscious of doing so, he is diligent about moisturizing and tends to have dry skin that even cracks in the winter. He trims his nails too, especially his toenails, to avoid discomfort during long runs. Toby’s facial hair is almost entirely limited to his upper lip and sideburns, but he finds it sloppy-looking and is always clean-shaven. His good habits stem from regular prompting from his mother in his youth, such that it has become normalized.

Toby has a simple style of dress, one which he rarely deviates from, not wanting to spend time or money on new clothes. He is usually seen in solid-color t-shirts and jeans with a few different overcoat pairings, depending on the weather. Most of the time he will pick between a neutral-color windbreaker, a heavy, dark brown leather jacket, or an unbuttoned plaid shirt in red or brown, depending on if it is cool, cold, or warm out. He usually wears plain ankle socks, and favors comfortable running shoes in almost all cases. Toby recently turned 18 and so his mother treated him to getting his ears pierced and get a tattoo. As a result, Toby now has two black stud earrings, one in each earlobe, as well as a stenciled tattoo on his left ankle featuring a depiction of the Magic: The Gathering color wheel, with the five-pronged Planeswalker symbol in the center.

On the day of the abduction Toby was wearing a white tank top under a dark brown plaid shirt, slightly distressed blue jeans and both of his earrings as normal. He also had on a pair of new, black and white running shoes and ankle socks.

Biography: Toby is the only child of businesswoman Angie Underwood, a financial manager at an up-and-coming retail supply chain in Chattanooga. As a successful professional in her business, Angie was well-off but had begun feeling like she was stuck in her day-to-day life, and ultimately determined that she wanted to start a family. After a brief but unsuccessful series of relationships, partly due to her difficulties compromising her career, Angie reconsidered her goals and felt that she would be willing to be a single mother. She decided to attempt artificial insemination, hoping to experience life raising a child while still being able to pursue her own goals.

One major challenge of single motherhood appeared, however, when Angie’s maternity leave period neared its end and she could not find caretakers for her son during the day. Lacking close friends with the available time and uncomfortable with the idea of regular daycare or a stranger nanny, she decided to call on her own parents. Fortunately, though they were reluctant to leave their lifelong home in South Carolina, the offer to live with their only daughter and only grandson was ultimately one they did not want to pass up. Toby was born in mid-November, and named after his grandfather’s middle name, though the nickname he uses now was quickly found more suitable for him.

Toby did well spending most of his childhood with his grandparents as his primary caretakers. Stuart ’Gramps’ was an active and lively man even given his relatively young age as a grandparent, and Melissa ‘Gram’ was just as energetic. The family was very close, and though her parents often fretted about Angie’s scheduling, she was usually able to maintain the balance between her work and being home with Toby as frequently as possible. As a little boy, Toby was cheerful and charming, but though he often tried to push his luck in getting toys or gifts, his grandparents were firmly against spoiling him, and quick to give a disciplinary talk when he got into trouble. Angie was a bit more susceptible, but Toby usually didn’t go to her very often, since his grandparents would confront her if she relented too often.

This boldness would carry into elementary school, where Toby was well-liked by his peers for his friendliness and confidence, though even as a youth he did poorly in academic pursuits, being at the slower end of the reading spectrum and becoming easily distracted during science and social studies lessons. He enjoyed math a bit more, finding the logical methodology easier to process, but his grades would never progress beyond passable. This was when Toby’s first and greatest passion appeared, during his lunchtime periods in 4th grade, when he and a number of other adolescents became involved in playing various trading card games, with Magic: The Gathering quickly becoming Toby’s favorite. Though many of his peers struggled with the more legalistic and math-reliant rules of Magic, Toby was quick to pick up on the nuances and wordings, and soon became very successful at the game. Though he partly succeeded by using misunderstandings to his advantage when playing with less-experienced kids, getting caught a few times made him eliminate this tactic.

As a young adult, he quickly amassed a large collection of cards, and soon became a regular participant in Friday Night Magic tournaments and other casual local games in his area. Toby has had a good deal of success in most competitions, though never beyond the state area or any major tournaments. He favors white and blue cards, since they give him more options and flexibility in responding to situations. He dabbles in standard construction format, but usually sticks to modern or limited, since he feels keeping up with the constantly shifting metagame is a hassle. His tactical play is usually good, though his biggest mistakes come when he underestimates his opponent or, more often, when one miscalculation causes him to overthink his moves and make mistakes.

Entering middle school gave Toby an outlet for his energy. Though his behavior had mellowed out considerably, he often found himself feeling restless and antsy, unable to sit still for very long, albeit not to such a degree that his family were concerned. He had found that gym class helped him expend this energy, but organized sports were unappealing to him, requiring greater hand-eye coordination than he had and a degree of tactical thought he didn't care to put into athletics. He decided to apply for the track team early into his first year, hoping it would be suitable to his needs, and was happy to find a great deal of enjoyment in the activity. Toby's stamina was naturally good, and he was skilled at conserving energy during long runs, so he quickly focused his efforts on distance running. He had modest success at competitions, but ultimately never viewed track as more than an enjoyable recreation, and was content to simply attend and perform without truly dedicating himself.

Because of Magic’s expensive nature, Toby found himself in need of money after his 12th birthday, when his grandparents talked Angie into reducing his allowance to encourage him to develop a stronger work ethic. Toby acted quickly to make up the difference, and was fortunate enough to discover that a nearby family had two toddler-aged children and frequently employed babysitters to watch said children while the parents went out. Toby was fortunate to find that, though the two boys were rambunctious and hyperactive, he had a knack for predicting their actions and keeping them entertained and well-behaved, and he had the endurance to spare to keep up with them. He enjoyed the chance to spend time with kids, finding them refreshingly direct and earnest. It didn’t take long for Toby to begin approaching other community members offering his services, finding it a fulfilling and low-effort way for him to make money.

Even as early as the start of middle school, Toby’s lackadaisical attitude and sense of humor had earned him a sizable circle of friends, though many were more casual acquaintances than anything particularly close. Because his mother was still permissive of him so long as he didn’t get into serious trouble, he frequently had friends over, or treated them to trips or lunches in his early teens. His easygoing charisma added to his popularity, and Toby enjoyed the company of all sorts of people. Toby tends to take a secondary role in groups, simply enjoying the conversation and offering an occasional comment.

Because he takes a more passive approach, Toby is prone to react slowly, and has adopted a wait-and-see attitude to social situations, which alternately works for and against him. Toby also tends to end up in shallow relationships with people, because while he gets along with many people, he doesn’t tend to be very invested in their problems. When conflict comes up or someone is having an emotional outburst, Toby becomes uncomfortable and withdraws.

This mindset describes Toby's demeanor even more broadly than just among his peers. He lacks drive and ambition and is content to simply accept what comes to him, reacting rather than working proactively. He is good at conversing with many different people, though he generally prefers people with eclectic interests to talk to, finding their experiences interesting. Toby is laidback and even-tempered, rarely becoming more than irritated or snippy at the worst. As a result, he responds to most situations with a level head, and is never known to panic even in a crisis. He has a strong streak of laziness in him, and though he usually keeps up with responsibilities he is also wildly inconsistent in doing so.

Academically, Toby has poor-to-middling grades; he maintains about a C average, but this often fluctuates between near-or-outright failing on work, and recovering with extra effort to avoid failing. He finds English class droll and science and history overly complicated, but he usually manages a low-A grade in math, appreciating the straightforwardness of the subject. His family is unhappy with his poor performance, but have ultimately accepted that Toby is not a gifted student and are at least content as long as he passes his classes, which he does.

Though he spends a lot of time out with friends, Toby does make an effort to be at home. His mother has always enjoyed a close relationship with him, though not necessarily a nurturing one, and when she's not working they will converse while doing something in the same room, sometimes for hours on end. Toby has actually managed to teach Angie the basics of Magic, though she is far from fluent and has little interest in becoming more competitive. Toby's grandparents have always been closer to parental figures for him. His Gram is his closest emotional confidant, who he will approach on the rare occasions when he feels lost or is struggling with an issue. Sweet but witty, she is someone he admires greatly, being relatively active despite being in her mid-eighties and having been a young factory worker in the last years of World War II.

Toby’s mother has had a flourishing vegetable garden since before he was born, having been fortunate enough to possess home with a sizable backyard. Toby has only begun helping out with it as of two summers ago, however, as until now Angie maintained most of it. Because Toby’s mother has begun having slight issues with the amount of kneeling required for much of it, Toby felt obligated to support her in this. To his surprise, not only was the work inoffensive, but he actually began to enjoy it. Angie ultimately phased out the majority of the physical labor, which Toby took up, though she stayed and conversed with him during the routine. He doesn’t mind the work, being fit and flexible enough to not become uncomfortable, and he finds the repetitive nature of planting, weeding, and harvesting to be a relaxing affair. He also gets satisfaction out of eating the greens and vegetables they gather, and he has also begun his own, smaller flower garden in a different plot of the yard, simply to try his hand at a different style of the activity. Also of notice is Toby's relationship with his Gramps, who has had perhaps the closest familial relationship with Toby since his early teens. Though he had existed as a paternal figure in Toby's childhood, he was quick to transition to a rapport more akin to peers, chatting about his life history and experiences and sharing his sense of humor.

Not only was Gramps the most frequent attendee of Toby's meets, he also introduced him to what became his favorite TV genre, game shows. Though most television bored Toby and left him restless before long, the fact that this genre and other such competitions had slightly more interactivity kept him interested. He would spend much of his time watching these shows with Gramps, occasionally joined by Angie and Grams, though they weren't as enthused with the shows as the men. He likes the competitive aspect and that these shows are more engaging than normal fictive television. The family's favorites are Family Feud and Jeopardy, but also enjoy other quiz-based shows. Toby has also recently become a fan of reality competition shows, especially The Amazing Race, as well as The Mole and a few others. He enjoys watching the competitive aspect, as well as the challenges and locales depending on the series. He also likes the interpersonal conflict, having fun observing the drama and seeing rivalries and bitterness unfold. His family are less interested in these shows than typical game shows, though Gram is starting to join him, and they have fun roasting the casts of the shows.

As his final year approached, Toby was encouraged by his family to find a goal after school, even though they recognized and acknowledged that college was probably not for him. After considering some options and speaking to his grandparents, Toby decided to take a gap year to travel, either as a volunteer in a foreign country or simply to backpack somewhere. He is aware that he is somewhat directionless, and though he isn't overly invested in becoming tied to a specific ambition, he recognizes that he needs something to dedicate himself to, if only for financial stability so he can support his true passions. He hopes that leaving Chattanooga and seeing new things will give him that purpose.

Advantages: Toby is likable and unobtrusive, being able to get along with many different people as well as good at diffusing conflict. Distance running in track has given him a high level of endurance, and though he isn't as fast as a sprinter he can still manage above-average speed if need be. Toby is level-headed and stays calm in most situations, as well as having a sense of caution in some situations.

Disadvantages: Toby tends to be passive in interactions and is liable to lack initiative; while he can make smart choices, he may not realize the necessity to do so right away. Similarly, Toby has difficulty taking things seriously and lacks commitment to pursuits that don't grab his interest. Toby’s carefree demeanor and tendency to withdraw from other peoples’ problems could be off-putting to people around him.

Designated Number: Male Student No. 37

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Designated Weapon: Kel-Tec P-32

Conclusion: What a bland douchebag. Use that to spice things up a bit, you hear? - Veronica Rai

'The above biography is as written by Espi. No edits or alterations to the author's original work have been made.'

Evaluations
Handled by: Espi

Kills:  None

Killed By: Tirzah Foss

Collected Weapons: Kel-Tec P-32 (assigned weapon, to Tirzah Foss)

Allies: N/A

Enemies: Ashlynn Martinek

Mid-game Evaluation: Toby was quick to come to, and was quick to consider his situation with some confidence. He wandered into a clearing, where he found Stepney Cruz. They were found by Tristan O'Hara and Helena Fury, the former of whom started to experience a live breakdown, which Toby had no intent of engaging with. That aside everyone brought up their armament- the lot of them had a lot of useful weapons and equipment to their name, and Toby proposed they move on elsewhere, a bit more comfortable than a jungle clearing. Ashlynn Martinek then showed, and the group talk continued to move along productive lines. Save for Hel, who was being more negative and fatalistic, which struck a poor chord with Toby. He held her at gunpoint, essentially as a form of morbid humor. However Hel's slightest provocation caused him to flinch, and he accidentally took a shot right into her side. He was quick to her side, asking for help, which was provided to some extent by Ashlynn, Tristan, and passerby Erika Stieglitz. But Ashlynn did not have kind words for him, and he had little patience for her in turn, leading him to abandon his efforts to fix the damaged he'd done. He elected to leave, and to in parting fire at her supplies, scoring several hits that would reduce her precious water.

He went to the island's lower beach area, now firmly convinced he'd made the right move, dismissing both Hel and Ashlynn. He idly contemplated something fun- a beach party, beach girls, but could come up with nothing. He was approached in his blind spot by Tirzah Foss, who he had a soft spot for. He invited her to swim, she seemed willing to engage to his somewhat idly lustful pleasure. She also seemed to be upset, and as she held him from behind he was prepared to try and seriously comfort her. He'd never get the chance- she gunned him down on that note.

Post-Game Evaluation: I want to say that was the first time in a while the honeypot strategy has paid any dividends. Only G055 didn't do anything particularly special to score this kill. She essentially just walked up and shot him without much in the way of interesting back and forth. Inevitable that this would be the fate of the kid who wasted ammunition on another person's water bottles. - Christina Stockton

Memorable Quotes: "I hope there aren't too many Jewish kids, then, they get like, eight things, right?" - Joking when Stepney points out they've all been given lethal weapons for their island 'Christmas'.

"Nah, we can just go in as-is. (...) Or, if you don't mind the cameras..." - Inviting Tirzah to go for a swim, in reference to her asking if they'd need swim suits. Shooting his shot, so on.

Threads
Below is a list of threads containing Toby, in chronological order.

The Past: V7 Pregame: Prom: The Trip: V7:
 * This Khan't Be Good
 * Make A New Cult Every Day
 * The Glorious Evolution
 * Let's Get Physical!
 * Bungee Jumper Lab
 * A Trip to the Nerd Zoo
 * Pump and Dump
 * The Glow Up
 * Room 716: Adventures Through Time and Space
 * Survival of the Fittest? At this time of day, in this part of the country, localised entirely within your high school?
 * Tapped Out

Your Thoughts
''Whether you were a fellow handler in SOTF or just an avid reader of the site, we'd like to know what you thought about Toby Underwood. What did you like, or dislike, about the character? Let us know here!''
 * The first thing I noticed about Toby, all the way back in Pregame, was what an evolution he was for Espi in terms of voice work. Before the island, Toby comes off as a really normal guy for the most part, with the exceptions of his deep passion for Magic and this quietly darker, casually prejudiced streak that pops up here and there in his thoughts and choice of language. I think this is a pretty solid look at how problematic views can manifest without exploding into full-on bigotry, and these little warning signs end up being good foreshadowing of where Toby goes in-game.

Soon after he wakes up on the island, Toby flies off the rails. It's not that he immediately hard-veers into gleeful villainy, but more that the unpleasant, nasty side of him that's been there all along really explodes to the surface in the face of stress and the threat of death. This leads to his playing the antagonist to the group he wakes up near, and leaves him pretty clearly unsympathetic, yet again without devolving into caricature. It also, in a lot of ways, plays into the theme of his death. Toby is put down by Tirzah not as a threat or out of anger, but because she's fond of him and doesn't want him to suffer or change. Given what we'd seen from Toby thus far, it's not too much of a stretch to say Tirzah accomplished her goal, shutting him down before he could really totally fall apart, leaving him a minor entry in the ledgers of jerks where, left to his own devices, he might've landed a lot higher. His arc's quick, and he can be an uncomfortable perspective to be in, but that's quite intentional and he makes a nice little splash in his brief stay. - MurderWeasel